Question:
Does one standard application of SoilTech reduce soil compaction on a wide scale, enough to justify a large lawn care company (over 20,000 customers) to apply as a standard application each year for every customer?
Purpose:
This test will help determine if it is feasible for a large lawn lawn care company to apply SoilTech to every customer’s lawn, over a wide range of soil conditions.
Test Sites:
Two hundred twenty two (222) test sites were selected at random from the customer list.
Control:
One standard application of SoilTech was applied at the label rate on each of the test sites. Two measurements for soil compaction were taken, one at the time of application and the other 8 weeks after application. Each site was marked and recorded.
Application:
On July 16, 2002 each site was treated with the standard application of SoilTech. The standard rate is 4oz SoilTech diluted 60:1 per 1000 square feet.
Tests Performed:
On July 16, 2002, before the application of SoilTech, a soil compaction test was performed on each site. Two measurements were taken at each site, the first one at the 3″ depth and the second at the 6″ depth. The method used was a soil compaction gauge that measures penetration resistance in pounds per square inch. On September 16, 2002 a second soil compaction test was performed on each site at the 3″ depth and at the 6″ depth.
Test Results:
Two hundred twenty-two tests were performed at both the 3″ and 6″ depth.
- Average soil compaction at the 3″ depth was 187 pounds per square inch BEFORE application.
- Average soil compaction at the 3″ depth was 107 pounds per square inch 8 weeks AFTER application.
- Average soil compaction reduction was 80 pounds per square inch. Average reduction in soil compaction was 43%.
- Average soil compaction at the 6″ depth was 239 pounds per square inch BEFORE application.
- Average soil compaction at the 6″ depth was 170 pounds per square inch 8 weeks AFTER application.
- Average soil compaction reduction was 68 pounds per square inch. Average reduction in soil compaction was 29%.
Summary of Test Results:
3″ Soil Depth
| Penetration Resistance lbs/sq.in. | Number of Tests | Average Decrease lbs/sq.in. | Average Decrease |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-50 | 13 | 2 | 4% |
| 51-100 | 42 | 19 | 23% |
| 101-150 | 59 | 58 | 34% |
| 151-200 | 29 | 90 | 46% |
| 201-250 | 23 | 116 | 47% |
| 251-300 | 56 | 177 | 59% |
6″ Soil Depth
| Penetration Resistance lbs/sq.in. | Number of Tests | Average Decrease lbs/sq.in. | Average Decrease |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-50 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 51-100 | 21 | 14 | 15% |
| 101-150 | 31 | 34 | 24% |
| 151-200 | 27 | 56 | 28% |
| 201-250 | 31 | 67 | 28% |
| 251-300 | 111 | 112 | 38% |
Interpretation:
The data suggests that the more compacted the soil, the more effective SoilTech is in reducing compaction. At both the 3″ and 6″ depth, these tests demonstrate a direct relationship between severity of compaction and the result after treatment. The soil compaction tests prove the effectiveness of SoilTech on a wide range of soil conditions. The high number of repetitions and using two depths substantiate the usefulness of SoilTech on a broad scale.
Conclusion:
The application of SoilTech on a wide range of soil conditions has substantially reduced soil compaction enough to justify a large lawn care company in Oklahoma to apply the product on every customer each year as a routine application. This test supports the claim that SoilTech reduces soil compaction.